How to Remove Standard Melodies on Xiaomi: 5 Proven Ways

Why Xiaomi’s Standard Melodies Take Place and How to Remove Them

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones come with dozens of preset tunes, from ringtones to notification sounds and alarm clocks, which take up 50 to 200 MB of internal memory, many of which users never use. Moreover, some tunes (such as classic MIUI ringtone or Marimba) are duplicated in several folders of the system, making it difficult to delete them by standard methods.

In this article, you will find 5 working ways to remove unnecessary audio files, from simple (via MIUI settings) to advanced (using ADB or root rights).We will also discuss which files can be safely deleted and which should not be touched so as not to disrupt the system.

If you want to not only make room, but also replace the standard sounds with your own, at the end of the article there is a bonus section with instructions for installing custom tunes through MIUI Themes or third-party apps.

Method 1: Remove via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for most models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, Poco X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13, etc.), but has a limitation: you can only remove custom tunes that you download, not system ones.

Open the Settings app and go to the section:

Settings → Sound and vibration → Melody of the call

Here you'll see a list of available ringtones. Click on any tune you want to delete and hold your finger. 2-3 If you can delete the file, you'll see the basket icon. 🗑️ or the option to Delete. System tunes (e.g, MIUI Default or Android Lollipop can’t be removed this way.

• ✅ Pros: No root, secure for the system.
• ❌ Cons: Works only with user files.
• ℹ️ Note: on some firmware (MIUI 14+) The removal option may be hidden – try swiping the melody to the left.

⚠️ Note: If you delete a tune that is used as an alarm or notification sound, MIUI It will automatically replace it with the standard one. → Alarm clock) after cleaning.

Method 2: Manually delete via file manager (with or without root)

Most of Xiaomi’s standard tunes are stored in system folders that are restricted, but even without root rights, you can delete some files through a file manager with MIUI support for Hidden Settings (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).

Here are the paths to the folders with the tunes (open them in the file manager):

/system/media/audio/


/system/product/media/audio/




/data/custom/ringtone/




/sdcard/MIUI/ringtone/

In /system/media/audio/ you will find subfolders:

• 🔔 ringtones - ringtones ringtones;
• 📳 Notifications – The sounds of notifications;
• ⏰ alarms - alarm clock signals;
• 🎵 ui – system sounds (pressing, blocking, etc.).

To delete files without rooting:

1. Download MiXplorer from XDA Developers (version with support for system folders).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to /sdcard/MIUI/ringtone/, where you can delete files without restriction.
4. For /system/ folders, root or ADB is required (see Method 4).

Install a file manager with root access

Create a backup of /system/media/audio/ folder

Check if the melodies are used in the alarm clock.

Disable the antivirus (it can block access)-->

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system/ If you have no root, you can crash your firmware. If you delete your phone, restore your files via Fastboot or reflash the device.

Method 3: Use ADB (without root but with debugging)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to delete system files without root, but requires USB debugging and a computer enabled, a method that works on all Xiaomi models, including Redmi, Poco and Mi, but requires caution.

Steps to remove through ADB:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/MIUI_tune.ogg (Replace the path with the desired file).
4. Reset the device.

List of popular files for removal:

Through MIUI settings

File Manager with root

ADB (no root)

Custom firmware

I don't know, I'll pick it after reading it.-->

Important: After deleting files via ADB, be sure to run mount -o ro, remount /system to return the /system partition to read-only mode. Otherwise, errors may occur when the next MIUI update is made.

Method 4: Removal with Magisk (for stitched devices)

If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, you can use modules to massively remove system tunes.This method is the most powerful, but requires root rights and knowledge of the basics of working with custom firmware.

Instructions:

1. Install Magisk Manager and check root status.
2. Download the module "MIUI Debloater" or "Universal Debloater".
3. In the module settings, find the Audio section and tick unnecessary melodies.
4. Reset the device.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔄 Ability to recover deleted files via Magisk.
• 📦 Mass removal (you can clean all system ringtones at a time).
• 🛡️ Security: modules tested by the community XDA.

Method 5: Replace standard tunes with your own (alternative to deletion)

If you don't want to risk deleting system files, you can just replace the standard tunes with your own.

1. Download your favorite ringtones in.mp3 or.ogg format.
2. Place them in /sdcard/MIUI/ringtone/ (if you don’t have a folder, create it manually).
3. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Call melody and select your file.

To replace system melodies (such as lock or notification sounds) you will need to:

• 📱 MIUI Themes Editor (to create a custom theme).
• 🎨 Zedge or Ringtone Maker (for cutting down sounds).
• 🔧 ADB (forcing the replacement of files in /system).

💡

If you want to return standard tunes after deletion, download the original files from your model’s firmware on the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website. They are in the image archive → system.img (you need to retrieve via 7-Zip).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When removing system tunes, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

To minimize the risks:

• 📌 Always backup the folder. /system/media/audio/ before removal.
• 🔍 Check file extensions: system sounds are usually in.ogg format, and custom —.mp3.
• 🔄 After deleting, restart your phone so that the changes take effect.

💡

Deleting tunes through file manager or ADB requires caution: Start with user files in /sdcard/MIUI/ringtone/, and touch system folders only if you have a backup or root rights.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions